Overview
Two weeks in Peru is the perfect amount of time to see some of the country’s greatest highlights. From the coastal capital to epic sand dunes to volcanic cities to the famed Machu Picchu, this two-week itinerary will take you through incredibly diverse landscapes and provide you with a glimpse of what makes Peru so special.
Week 1:
Day 1: Travel Day – Fly into Lima
Day 2: Lima
Day 3: Paracas pitstop & Huacachina
Day 4: Huacachina & Nazca pitstop
Day 5: Arequipa
Day 6: Arequipa
Day 7: Cusco
Week 2:
Day 8: Day Trip from Cusco: Sacred Valley + Maras Salt Flats & Moray
Day 9: Day Trip from Cusco: Rainbow Mountain
Day 10: Cusco
Day 11-15: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Day 16: Travel Day – Fly home
Recommended Trip Extensions
Lake Titicaca + Puno + Floating Islands
Huascaran National Park
Logistics
Do I need a Visa?
No tourist visa is required for US citizens staying in Peru for less than 183 days.
How to Get There:
The largest and cheapest airport to fly into is Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), situated in the heart of the capital city of Lima. From the airport, take the safe and cheap Airport Express Lima Bus to reach your accommodations. Alternatively, arrange a private transfer through your hostel/hotel for approximately $25.
Transportation within Peru:
I recommend traveling around the county with Peru Hop, a trusted and safe hop-on, hop-off bus system. The Peru Hop guides are incredibly resourceful, friendly and hilarious, providing you with insider tips and knowledge. The buses will pick you up and drop you off at your various accommodations within cities, making it easy to move from place to place. Further, you’ll get discounted and free deals in every city by flashing your Peru Hop wristband. The comfy seats equipped with blankets, shades and recliners provide for a more comfortable overnight experience. Tip: bring an eye mask and earplugs for overnight trips.
When to Go:
May through August is peak season in Peru because it is the dry season. In my opinion, the ideal time to travel is May as it’s just after the rainy season so the landscape is lush and green but before the summer tourist rush
Trip Prep:
Call banks to notify them of your travel.
Consult your doctor about medications. Recommended vaccinations: Typhoid and Tdap (Tetanus). Tip: Get a Diamox prescription to help prevent altitude sickness. Start taking 2 days prior to elevation gain.
Download the offline Google Translate and Google Maps of the areas you’ll be traveling so you can view them without service.
Download WhatsApp in case you need to communicate with locals (our hostels used WhatsApp).
Local Currency:
Peru’s currency is called the Peruvian Sol (PEN). The current value (at time of writing) is 3.39 Soles to $1 USD.
Tipping:
Not obligatory. However, nice to tip for great service. Many people just round up the bill and leave a couple extra Soles. If you're at a nicer restaurant, tip more. That said, definitely tip your tour/trekking guides, drivers, bellhops, etc.!
Power Voltage/Converter:
No converter needed. Peru uses 220v whereas the US uses 110V, so while your devices may get a little warm while charging, no converter is needed.
Tips for Your Trip to Peru:
Don’t drink the tap water, purchase bottled water. A good price for a liter bottle is 2.5 – 3.5 Soles.
Eat/drink coca leaves to help with altitude sickness.
Don’t throw toilet paper in the toilet. There will be a small trash next to the toilet for you to place your used paper. Also, carry some toilet paper around because not all bathrooms will have it.
Don’t be afraid to haggle in markets.
Make sure you have cash, not everywhere takes cards.
Bring Soles on your trek to Machu Picchu to buy snacks and to tip the guides/cooks.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Below you will find the research I put together for each location we visited during our two weeks in Peru, including where to stay, where to eat and the top things to do.
Lima: Day 1 & 2
Lima, situated on the central coast, is the capital and largest city in Peru. It’s a foodie city boasting some of the highest rated restaurants in the world.
Where to Stay:
Do not stay near the airport, it’s rather unsafe. The two most popular neighborhoods are Miraflores (higher-end, coastal) and Barranco (bohemian/art district). We stayed at the Selina Miraflores Lima (hostel) and I highly recommend. It’s very cute/trendy and they can arrange airport pickup.
Where to Eat:
Central: Rated 5th best restaurant in world. Offers a 13-course meal, if you don’t have a reservation try to sit at the bar & get 1 plate for $20 USD.
Astrid & Gastón: $134/person
Maido: Rated one of the top restaurants in the world
La Verde: Delicious vegetarian restaurant
El Enano: Inexpensive place to grab fresh juices and smoothies, sandwiches and delicious hand-cut fries.
Tip: Book dining reservations at the Michelin star restaurants months in advance. They fill up quick! And be sure to try the ceviche while in Lima.
Things to Do:
Bike tour: Book 3-hour bike tour with Lima Bike for $25/person (Tour Name: Lovely Barranco, from Miraflores)
Book a food tour
Book a free walking tour
Park of Love: Oceanside park in Miraflores
Wander through the historic Olive Grove Park
Larcomar: Cliffside shopping center in Miraflores
Explore Historical District: La Plaza Mayor, Catacombs
Huaca Pucllana: Remains of a pyramid, 45 min guided tour
Watch Pacific Ocean sunset
Tips
Take money out before leaving Lima as the Paracas’ ATM (your next stop) has higher fees and Huacachina has no ATMs.
Paracas: Day 3
Paracas is a coastal city located 3 hours south of Lima. The town itself is kind of lame/run down but it’s the perfect pit stop on your way to Huacachina. Our Peru Hop tour bus had a 3-hour stopover, which is the perfect amount of time to visit the Paracas National Reserve or Ballestas Islands.
Things to Do: You’ll only have time for 1 of the following tours.
Paracas National Reserve: ~2-hour tour/bus ride, free with your Peru Hop wristband. You’ll visit 3 famous spots within the reserve: La Catedral, Istmo de la Peninsula & Playa Roja. Personally, I’d recommend the National Reserve over the Ballestas Islands as the waters can be rough.
Ballestas Islands Boat Tour: Nicknamed “the poor man’s Galapagos” for the abundant wildlife. You cannot swim or walk on the islands themselves as they are protected (must remain on boat at all times). Your Peru Hop tour guide can help you book a boat tour for roughly 50 Soles ($15 USD) – cash only.
Where to Eat:
Before your tour, you should have time to grab a quick breakfast/smoothie at a restaurant called Fruzion (10% off with your Peru Hop wristband)
Huacachina: Day 3 Continued & Day 4
Huacachina (pronounced “oo-wank-a-ina”) is a tiny village and desert oasis 4 hours south of Lima. Home to the largest sand dunes in South America, you’ll have a blast dune bugging, sandboarding and playing in Peru’s giant sandbox.
Where to Stay:
Banana’s Adventure Hostel: Has a pool, restaurant & bar, and your stay includes a free tour. Free tour Options (pick one): Dunebuggy/Sandboarding, Pisco/Winery Tour, or BBQ Buffet. I’d recommend the dunebuggy/sandboarding option. Note the room gets a little loud at night as people party downstairs but the fan helped drown out the noise.
Where to Eat:
Samarana: Recommend the Lomo saltado, chicken fried rice & pisco sours. Note there's additional tables upstairs.
Bananas Adventure Hostel BBQ
Huacafuckingchina Restobar: Lunch spot by the lagoon, noisy nightclub by night
Tip: Skip the Wild Olive Italian restaurant that’s recommended in your Peru Hop book, it’s over-rated.
Things to Do:
Dune buggy/Sandboarding tour
Watch the sunset over the dunes. Climb up the dunes behind the old water tank for the best view.
Walk around the lake: It’s about the size of a football field (takes ~10 min)
Pisco/Winery Tour: Included with Peru Hop wristband. You will stop at El Catador, one of the oldest vineyards in Peru, on your bus ride from Huacachina to Arequipa. You’ll learn about the traditional fermenting methods and sample Peruvian wine & liqueur.
Nazca: Day 4 Continued
This is another pitstop on your Peru Hop journey from Huacachina to Arequipa. Nazca is home to the famous Nazca lines, a series of designs and pictographs carved into the desert sands over 2,000 years ago. Your Peru Hop bus will stop here for ~20 minutes, allowing you to climb the viewing towers and peak at 3 of these lines (entrance fee included with Peru Hop wristband). Afterwards, you will stop as a group for dinner in town (price not included) before continuing on your overnight bus journey to Arequipa.
Arequipa: Day 5 & 6
Framed by 3 volcanoes, Arequipa is considered the most beautiful city in Peru. It’s nickname “the white city” comes from the buildings’ white volcanic stone structures. It is the second largest city in Peru (after Lima) and the gateway to Colca Canyon (the world’s second deepest canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon).
Where to Stay:
Do NOT stay at the Le Foyer Hostel or anywhere near it (we made this mistake), very loud party neighborhood. Look closely at reviews to ensure your accommodation is in a quiet neighborhood.
Peru Hop recommends and provides discounts at: Flying Dog, Dragonfly and Casa de Avila Hotel.
Where to Eat:
Pasta Canteen: Italian place where you build your own pasta, delicious food
El Tío Dario: Highly recommend for lunch. Delicious Peruvian seafood in a stunning outdoor garden. Recommended dishes (to share, large portions): Rocoto relleno (Peruvian version of stuffed peppers), ceviche, parmesan scallops, grilled alpaca, potatoes with marinated tomatoes & the seafood empanadas. Note this is a little further from the main town center, but worth the walk. Visit the nearby Yanahuara Scenic Overlook before/after eating.
Zig Zag Restaurant: Romantic dinner spot with a cool atmosphere. Considered Peruvian food with a European fusion. A little pricier. Recommend the 3-meat volcanic-stone dish (try the alpaca). Heads up: if you pay with card a 20% tip may be automatically added to your bill. Tip: Book a reservation online in advance.
La Plaza Bar & Grill: Go for happy hour drinks, beautiful view overlooking the Plaza de Armas. Tip: Book a reservation online in advance.
Chelawasi Public House: Peruvian inspired comfort food (burger & fries). It’s a bar, so kind of loud. Meat was undercooked so ask for it medium-well.
Da Giancarlo Pizzeria Italiana: Recommended Pizza place
Things to Do:
Free city walking tour: 2.5 hours. Meeting Point: Santa Catalina Street 204. I recommend doing this your first day in the city.
Plaza de Armas: Walk around this beautiful town square.
Basilica Cathedral (in the Plaza del Armas): Free entrance from 5-7pm (no flip flops, shorts or bare shoulders).
Monasterio De Santa Catalina (40 soles per person, $12 USD): Highly recommend this monastery. Absolutely beautiful with epic views overlooking the city and volcanoes. Normal hours are 9-5pm but if you’re lucky enough to be in Arequipa on a Tues or Wed, it’s open late so go for sunset!
Yanahuara Scenic Overlook: Go before/after eating at El Tío Dario, nice volcano views
San Camilo Market (Mercado Central): interesting experience to see the local shopping center/farmers market. Get a fresh smoothie.
Alpaca World (free entry), somewhat over-rated
Explore the oldest neighborhood San Lazaro
Hike a volcano: we didn't have time to do this but our walking tour guide told us you can hike to the top of some of the volcanos surrounding the city.
Recommended Trip Extensions
A 3-hour drive from Arequipa, Colca Canyon is the world's second deepest canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. We didn't have time to go here, but others recommended it.
Day 7: Cusco (Day 7, 8, 9, 10)
Situated at 11,200 feet and once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is a city in the Peruvian Andes filled with history and culture. This charming town is best explored on foot and it’s the perfect spot to acclimate before your trek to Machu Picchu. Walking through the city’s cobblestoned streets, you’ll notice a mixture of Incan and Spanish influences.
Where to Stay:
Casa Saphi Bed & Breakfast: Just a 7-minute walk to the Plaza de Armas, Casa Saphi is a small family run Bed & Breakfast. The owners Juan and Gabriela were sweet and helped provide recommendations, airport transfers and book tours. They also stored our luggage for free while on the Salkantay Trek. A simple breakfast is included with your stay, and they will pack it for you on days you are heading out early for tours. Every room comes with a private bathroom/shower, free WiFi, toiletries and a hairdryer.
Selina Plaza de Armas or Selina Cusco Saphi: Trendy/uniquely designed hostels
Nao Victoria Hostel: Private rooms, cute, centrally located
Pariwana Party/social hostel - clean, organized, good location
EcoPackers Backpacker vibe
Milhouse Converted convent
Tip: stay close to Plaza de Armas
Where to Eat:
Grab happy hour at Limbus Resto Bar: Go for drinks at sunset for an amazing view of the city. They have fun/creative cocktails; I personally recommend the Moai (heavenly)! It’s definitely worth the uphill walk from the Plaza de Armas.
Drinks at Paddy’s Irish Pub: fun pub that claims to be the “highest Irish pub” in the world.
Chakruna Native Burgers: Amazing food, try the Alpaca burger with fries (made from a variety of local potatoes) which comes with yummy homemade sauces.
The Meeting Place: Delicious spot for “American style” breakfast. Apparently, they have good milk shakes too!
Green Point: Vegan/vegetarian and highly recommended.
La Bo’M: Cute crepe spot in the trendy part of town with a great view of Cusco. Closed on Mondays.
Hanz Craft Beer Restaurant: Small restaurant (16 seats only) but very tasty, good view, near town center.
Chicha: Fancy spot for dinner.
Peña Don Luis: A local’s recommendation for traditional Peruvian food. Try the pork chicharrón and the chicken salpicon.
La Bodega 138: Pizza, pasta, awesome fresh salads and an excellent beer selection.
Things to Do in Cusco:
Plaza de Armas: Walk around the main town square
Museums and Churches: not highly recommended if you’re short on time except for Qorikancha, an Incan and Spanish juxtaposition in one church/temple ruins.
Hike up to Christo Blanco, Q'enquo, Sacsayhuman for a morning hike. 2-3 hrs in total including visiting the ruins.
Visit the San Pedro Market: Great produce, juices, smoothies, dried fruits/nuts, and souvenirs.
San Blas: Walk around this artisan district
Night out: Mama Africa (lots of dancing, watch your phone/wallet!)
Tips
Plan to spend 2 full days in Cusco to acclimate to the altitude before starting the trek to Machu Picchu.
Book day trips from Cusco once you arrive in the city rather than online in advance as it’s much cheaper.
The ATMs only let you take out 700 Soles ($209 USD) but you can go to the BCP bank in the Plaza del Armas (near McDonalds) and take out as much cash as you’d like. Go to the back counter and bring your passport. Also ask for smaller bills and coins because a lot of merchants won’t take anything bigger than 20 soles.
Day Trips/Tours:
Can be booked the day prior in Cusco from people around the Plaza de Armas or at your hostel. They recommend shopping around & negotiating. We found it easiest to book directly from our hostel. Tip: do not book online ahead of time as it will be significantly more expensive (i.e. Rainbow Mountain $80 vs $30). Tours labeled “Bi-lingual” are for English speakers. Note: Tours in Peru aren't typically on time so prepare to be patient.
Recommended Day Trips:
1. Sacred Valley + Maras Salt Flats & Moray:
Full day tour (7am – 7pm).
Costs 90 Soles or ~$27 USD + 60 Soles (~$18 USD) for Boleto Parcial (partial ticket) + 10 Soles ($3 USD) for Moras entrance (bring cash on bus). Roughly 160 Soles or ~$47 USD total per person. Tip: Ask if these fees are included when booking your tour, it was not for us and we almost didn’t have enough cash!
Comprehensive trip of the ruins including stops at a traditional textile shop, Parque Arqueologico Chinchero, Moray agricultural research site, Maras Salt Flats, traditional buffet lunch, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac Archaeological Park. Highly recommend this tour... although I may be biased because my boyfriend proposed at sunset :)
2. Maras Salt Flats & Moray:
Half day tour (7am – 2pm). If your short on time, this is the abbreviated version of the full day tour mentioned above.
Costs 45 Soles or $13 USD + 10 Soles ($3 USD) for Moras entrance. You may also have to purchase a Boleta Parcial for 60 Soles so bring cash.
3. Rainbow Mountain:
Full day tour (4:30am – 6pm).
Costs 90 Soles or ~$27 USD + 10 Soles ($3 USD) entrance fee.
Colorful hike that rises to an altitude over 17,000 ft. -- Note super high elevation so make sure you’ve acclimated! Don’t book this tour your first day in Cusco.
The tour leaves early in the morning (3:00-4:00am) so be sure you have down days on either side. Your tour should include breakfast & lunch.
Tip: On your way down from Rainbow Mountain, make sure to take a detour over to the Red Valley (trail to the left-hand side while descending). Costs 10 soles to enter but 100% worth it, we liked it more than Rainbow Mountain because it was significantly less crowded.
Tip: Bring 1 Soles to pay to use a bathroom on the trail (more like a shack with a hole in the ground).
4. Humantay Lake:
If you’re not doing the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, this is a recommended day trip from Cusco where you hike to a beautiful mountaintop lake.
Day 11 – 15: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
The easiest way to get to Machu Picchu is to take the train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. However, the most exciting way to get to Machu Picchu is on one of the many trekking options, retracing the steps of the Incas. The most popular treks include: The Incan Trail, the Lares Trek, and the Salkantay Trek. The Incan Trail is the most crowded but the only trek that allows you to enter the site of Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate (through the top of the Machu Picchu) rather than going into the town of Aguas Calientes.
After combing through lots of research and recommendations, we decided to do the Salkantay Trek (pronounced “Sol-con-tie”) with a tour operator called Salkantay Trekking. We had a fantastic time and our guides were phenomenal.
We did the Classic 5-day, 4-night trek to Machu Picchu for $420 USD/person. Visit Salkantay Trekking’s website to learn more and book directly. They also have a 4-day version I would recommend if you’re short on time.
Hike Day 1:
Route: Cusco | Mollepata – Challacancha – Soraypampa (Humantay Lake)
Distance: 7.45 miles
Accommodation: Glass-Topped Sky Camp
Tip: Make sure to set your alarm in the middle of the night to star gaze! Seriously, the most impressive stars I've ever seen.
Hike Day 2:
Route: Soraypampa | Salkantay Pass - Wayracpunku - Chaullay
Distance: 13.7 miles
Accommodation: Wooden Camping CHOZAS
Hike Day 3:
Route: Chaullay | Collpapampa - La Playa - Lucmabamba
Distance: 11.2 miles
Accommodation: Newly constructed Jungle Domes
Hike Day 4:
Route: Lucmabamba | Llactapata – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes
Distance: 11.2 miles
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel
Hike Day 5: Machu Picchu!
Route: Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (recommend taking the bus for $24 roundtrip rather than hiking)
Details:
2 hour guided tour of the ruins (by your Salkantay Trekking guide). Afterwards, you can opt to climb Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain (if you have pre-booked tickets, these are not included with trek) or walk to the Sun Gate (no extra ticket required).
You have ~7 hours total in Machu Picchu before returning to Aguas Calientes and taking the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. If you have time in Aguas Calientes, grab lunch at Palate Bistro Machupichu. Good food and atmosphere at reasonable prices. Get a sandwich or burger.
A private van will pick the group up from the train station in Ollantaytambo and drop you off at your hostel in Cusco around 8:00pm
Tips:
Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to enter Machu Picchu.
Beat the crowds! Don’t miss the first bus to Machu Picchu. It’s worth it to be the first ones to enter when the doors open at 6am. Be in line at the Aguas Calientes bus station at 4:30am to catch the 5:30am bus. Your trekking guide will meet you at the bus station.
Day 16: Travel Day
Fly home. Typical route is Cusco to Lima to USA.
Fun Facts About Peru:
Nearly every city/town in Peru has a central square known as the Plaza de Armas
Picchu means mountain
Some of the world’s most expensive gourmet coffee is made in Peru—from poop!
For all the work that went into the building of Machu Picchu, the Incas only lived there for about 15 years.
The Incas lived in harmony with nature and worshiped Mother Earth and Father Sun, sometimes with human sacrifices.
The Incas were architectural geniuses! Many of their buildings and walls are built so precisely that you can’t even fit a credit card between the carved stones.
Lake Titicaca is home to man-made floating islands that bob on the water like a wine cork.